Chapter 580: Li Tai: Who the Hell Am I Supposed to Reason With?

The room had been silent for a long time; Chen Yan lowered his head slightly, a strand of long hair covering his face, making his expression unreadable.

After an unknown amount of time, even Gao Yang grew restless, and the maids of Xiang Lan and Zheng Guanyin were about to kneel.

Zheng Guanyin, sipping tea lightly, spoke: "So, is the Duke of Wei satisfied with what I have uncovered?"

"Satisfied, of course satisfied!"

Chen Yan's tone was calm; he looked up at her and said, "Only, I really want to know how you investigated and handled it."

"The Wei King's former power wasn't small; even His Majesty couldn't uncover this, yet you did. I find it hard to believe."

Zheng Guanyin sneered: "If so, you can simply choose not to believe it. After all, only the few of us present know about this; no one else does."

"Just consider today as Gao Yang missing me and coming to visit purely, okay?"

"Stop bringing up other things and give specific reasons!" Chen Yan's voice grew cold. "Again, as I said, now across the realm, only I can save you and the children in your household!"

"I advise you not to be ungrateful; my temper is terrible, especially when dealing with matters like this!"

Zheng Guanyin paused for two breaths and said, "It was when the hidden Crown Prince faction and the old Wei King forces were drinking together in the past that I happened to overhear, though not stated directly, that they once had a chance to make a comeback, but it was a pity, something like that."

"At that time I received the news and followed that lead, but found no concrete evidence; the damned people are all dead and gone."

"Only that I discovered, in the more than a month before the Crown Prince was poisoned, members of the Wei King faction gathered secretly in small groups a few times."

After hearing all of Zheng Guanyin's words, Chen Yan closed his eyes and softly said, "This matter has nothing to do with the Wei King or his forces; it was done by a noble family cooperating with Concubine Wei and the remnants of the Wei clan, understand?"

His words were light, yet anyone could hear the undeniable authority in them.

Zheng Guanyin silently nodded, understanding Chen Yan's meaning.

"Husband! Husband, please don't act rashly; Zheng Guanyin has never had a good relationship with us, she might be here to provoke us!"

Leaving Zheng Guanyin's residence, Chen Yan's surrounding aura was oppressively frightening; he kept his head down and walked forward without a word.

Gao Yang was startled by this Chen Yan, hurried to catch up, and said while walking, "Putting aside whether Zheng Guanyin lied, even if she didn't, the poison indeed came from the old Wei King faction, but that doesn't mean the matter is necessarily linked to the Wei King."

"Perhaps Li Tai himself doesn't even know?"

"After all, you've seen his current state; he's wholly devoted to that so-called Divine Might Cannon, he has no interest in the throne struggle!"

Chen Yan stopped, his voice deep, "What if this is a façade? He's trying to let everyone lower their guard, then strike by surprise?"

"In that case, with Prince Jin still a child, the heir can only be his legitimate son!"

"Gao Yang! I've long told you I never mind harboring the greatest malice to speculate about people's hearts, especially when facing that supreme position!"

After speaking, Chen Yan forced down his inner irritation, softened his tone, "This matter doesn't concern you; go home first. Xiao Sui An is still waiting for your care."

Gao Yang would not readily agree; knowing Chen Yan, she feared he might do something, and hurriedly said, "Think carefully about what I said, don't let your emotions sway you."

"Weren't you always disdainful of people like this? Calm down, okay?"

"I grew up with Li Tai from childhood. Yes, I admit he can be ruthless at times, but he should have truly withdrawn from the throne contest."

"Moreover, this matter has absolutely no evidence to prove anything. Let's go home first; hasn't Father Emperor increased investment to cultivate the unruly? We can let the unruly investigate!"

Chen Yan sighed, patted Gao Yang's head, and gently said, "Tang'er, be good, go find your Father Emperor and tell him everything, okay?"

"Good~"

A flood of words got stuck in Gao Yang's throat; looking at the gentle Chen Yan before her, she could say nothing more......

Chang'an, inside the newly built Research Institute.

Near noon, the Wei Wang Consort, as usual, brought a meal to Li Tai, who wasn't eating properly.

Seeing Li Tai still crowded with a group, discussing around an iron lump with excitement, a hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes.

Bang—

The Wei Wang Consort was about to open the door when the door behind her was violently kicked open; instantly she felt a figure dash past, moving faster than the eye, both hands seizing Li Tai's collar, barreling forward and pinning the bewildered Li Tai hard against the wall.

Li Tai still hadn't recovered his senses; the others were frightened, not knowing what had happened.

"All of you... get out!!!"

Chen Yan turned his head aside, his voice eerily low.

Anyone who saw him dared not linger and hurriedly fled in panic.

At the scene, aside from the two of them, only the Wei Wang Consort, holding a food box and at a loss, remained.

"Zi... Zi Anxiong, what's this? Did I provoke you again?"

Li Tai gradually came to his senses, a faint smile tugging at his chubby face, genuinely unable to understand what was happening today.

"Provoked me?"

Chen Yan's palm suddenly surged with force, pinning him hard against the wall, and raged, "Tell me, did your people poison the Crown Prince?"

"Behind this... are you the one directing it!?"

Clang—

The moment he spoke, the Wei Wang Consort's face turned pale, and the food box in her hand fell to the ground.

Poison the Crown Prince?

Li Tai was equally startled, "Zi Anxiong, don't joke. How could I possibly poison the Crown Prince? I... I have no interest in the throne; I swear the rest of my life I'll devote only to science!"

"Is that so?" Chen Yan's anger flared further, "Then tell me, why did those old subordinates you suppressed, when drunk, say they once had a chance to make a comeback!"

"And before Li Chengqian was poisoned, they met secretly multiple times, seemingly plotting something, yet you claim it has nothing to do with you?"

"No... it's not!" Li Tai was truly bewildered and panicked, "Damn, Zi Anxiong, you have to believe me, this really has nothing to do with me, I don't know!"

"You don't know?" Chen Yan laughed in anger, "So you mean your people went to poison Li Chengqian just to support you becoming Crown Prince, to earn the merit of supporting a dragon, and you, the dragon to be lifted, are unaware?"

"I..."

Li Tai's face turned green.

Heavenly Bodhisattva!

If he only knew a little, that would be fine; it wouldn't be an injustice.

The point is he really has no idea at all, ah, wholeheartedly researching the Divine Might Cannon, who the hell, with nothing to do, would go poison Li Chengqian, what the hell are you acting like a Crown Prince for, ah?

More importantly, it seems they have already found out a bit of news, namely that it was done by his former troops.

Who the hell am I supposed to reason with, ah?

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